Lemon Burst Brussels Sprouts

Ok, lets talk Brussels Sprouts people! I know what you're thinking, "I don't eat Brussels Sprouts!" When done right, these little guys will go from the bottom to the top of your veggie list! I've always loved Brussels Sprouts and their cousin, the cabbage, but I've always eaten them with just a little butter and salt and been a happy camper. Then I realized there are so many other ways to jazz them up and really make them pop! This makes a great side dish any time of year, whether you're bbq-ing in the summer or serving a holiday meal. The key here is to caramelize the Brussels Sprouts to bring out all their natural sugars, which makes them so sweet and delish! This is a bright and refreshing dish even the kids will love!

Ingredients:

-2 packages frozen brussels sprouts, THAWED (yes, I use frozen as a shortcut!)

-3/4 cup chopped dry roasted almonds

-1/2 yellow onion, CHOPPED

-Lemon infused olive oil

-2 lemons

-Salt and pepper to taste

Thaw out your bags of frozen Brussels Sprouts for about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step #1

Coat the bottom of a large skillet with the lemon infused olive oil. (I use a cast iron pan because it can also be put in the oven)

Step#2

Cut your Brussels Sprouts in half and place them flat side down on the skillet to caramelize.

Step#3

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and let them sizzle on medium heat, untouched, for about 5 min or so. Check one or two to see if they have gotten that golden caramelization.

Step#4

While they are cooking on the skillet, chop up your almonds and half an onion. Once the Brussels Sprouts are done, transfer them to a baking dish and then add more lemon infused olive oil to the pan to sauce the onions and almonds together. Once the onions are translucent add them as well as the almonds to the Brussels Sprouts.

Step#5

Place baking dish in oven for 10 min just to finish crisping it all up. Meanwhile, squeeze the juice of the two lemons. Once you have taken the dish out of the oven, add the fresh lemon juice and stir it in thoroughly. Enjoy!

FUN FACT: Brussels sprouts first became popular in Brussels, Belgium, which is where they got their name. They are also one of the healthiest foods; full of Vitamins C, K, B1 and B6 as well as Omega- 3. Eat up!